Nigerian military counters Amnesty International, says reports undermining troops’ sacrifices

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has countered a report by Amnesty International titled “Nigeria: Mounting death toll and looming humanitarian crisis amid unchecked attacks by armed groups” released on Thursday.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, in a statement on Friday, described the report as lacking contextual depth.

Kangye said the military hierarchy had express strong reservations about the sweeping generalisations, lack of contextual depth, and the failure of the statement to recognize the monumental strides made by the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the current administration.

According to him, the report paints a bleak and generalised picture of national insecurity, largely ignoring the asymmetric and evolving nature of modern threats, especially those rooted in decades of socio-political and economic complexities.

“While there are undeniable challenges in specific regions, DHQ strongly refutes the implication that the military has been absent or inactive in the face of these threats.

‎”Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, the DHQ working under the renewed strategic direction of the Commander-in-Chief, has achieved significant milestones in degrading terrorist networks, disrupting criminal syndicates, and restoring civil authority across many volatile regions,” he said.

Kangye said that no fewer than 5,000 insurgents and bandits had so far been neutralised across multiple theatres of operation, including the Northeast, Northwest, and North Central.

He added that dozens of high-value terrorist commanders apprehended or neutralised through precision strikes and coordinated intelligence-driven operations.

He said the military had restored security to over 350 communities and villages previously under attacks by terrorists and bandits, particularly in Borno, Niger, Zamfara, and Katsina States.

According to him, the sustained presence of troops in areas such as Maru (Zamfara), Bokkos (Plateau), and Logo (Benue) has enabled displaced persons to begin returning home under military protection.

‎The defence spokesman said the troops had in partnership with local intelligence networks, successfully rescued over 1,200 abducted civilians, including women and children, many of whom were kidnapped in mass abduction incidents.

He added that several notorious kidnapping syndicates had been dismantled, and recovery of illegal weapons caches continues weekly.

Kangye said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had conducted over 500 successful air interdictions, close air support among other operation while significantly degrading the movement and logistics capability of armed groups.

He said the use of modern surveillance drones and night operations had improved tactical superiority and minimized civilian casualties.

He questioned the methodology underpinning Amnesty International’s statistics.

According to him, amnesty’s report had alleged that 10,217 persons were killed in Nigeria from May 29, 2023 to date out of which 2,630 deaths were recorded in Plateau State.

“It further alluded that 672 communities were displaced in Nigeria out of which 167 communities were dislodged in Plateau State in the last 2 years.

“Additionally, the report stated that armed bandits carried out 38 attacks and displaced 43 villages in four Local Government Areas in Plateau between March 27 and April 2.

“It is expedient to state that the report on the situation in Plateau State is a deliberate effort to mislead the general public towards galvanizing negative public opinion against the military.

“The number of deaths quoted in the report does not reflect the actual situation in Plateau,” he said.

Kangye said that Plateau had since July 2023, witnessed continuous improvement until the coordinated attacks in some communities in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas of April 2 and April 14.

According to him, the period covered in the press release did not record coordinated attacks on communities except for the Christmas Eve 2023 and the recent security breaches in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas.

“Therefore, the allegation of killing of 2,630 persons in Plateau in the last two years is a concoction of falsehood in pursuant of self-serving agenda.

“Similarly, nothing can be farther from the truth that the alleged displacement of 167 communities in Plateau in the last two years.

“Although the crisis in Plateau State resulted in displacement of some communities in 2011, there were no further displacements in the state between 2023 and 2025 as claimed in the report.

“Rather, due to the improved security situation, the Plateau State Government convened a committee for the resettlement of displaced persons in their ancestral homes in 2024.

“The committee is still finalizing arrangements for the return of persons displaced to their various communities.

“Therefore, the allegations raised in the press release by Amnesty International could be discountenanced,” he said.

Kangye said the AI’s claims especially in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Katsina are exaggerated and not fully reflective of ground realities.

He said the figure of 481 villages allegedly sacked and 529 under bandit control was grossly exaggerated and unverified, saying that most of the areas mentioned in the report had seen active military presence and restoration of civil authority.

“The Nigerian armed forces remain committed to protecting all citizens, restoring peace, and safeguarding the territorial integrity of the natiforces

“Constructive engagement is welcomed, but disinformation or alarmist narratives undermine both local and international efforts to achieve enduring peace.

“Amnesty International is encouraged to engage more meaningfully with stakeholders, including the military, to develop nuanced, data-driven insights that support national security and humanitarian efforts without undermining the sacrifices of those in the frontlines,” he concluded.

NAN